Monday, 31 December 2007

Anotheryear is nearlyover and lthoughtherehavebeen a few major changes for meit's all been for the best and I'mreallylooking forward to 2008.Atthe minute I'msitting in a hotel reception area in Stockholm, Sweden and canseethesnowfallingoutside.I'vehadsomegreatdanceclasses and enjoyedthepartiesatnight.Tonights party should be even better.For anybodythatpops by here I wishyouwell for 2008.I'llupdatemy blog withmoredetailsofmySwedentripwhen I get home.Now I havetogo and make myselflookglamorous - well I cantry!!

Wednesday, 26 December 2007

Christmas always goes too fast but that's what happens when you're having fun and that's what we did. We went up to Wales on Christmas Eve. All of the presents looked great under the tree. By the time we got up and had bacon butties on Christmas morning it was time to nip to Warrington to see more family before coming back to open our presents.

I must have been a very good girl this year as I've been totally spoilt by everyone. A few presents were so well thought out they made me blub (I know it doesn't take much!) and some made me laugh so hard it hurt. Remember you may just get what you ask for - a new leg as mine is still a little sore - thanks Dad & Anne!! It's amazing what you can do with an old curtain pole, gold spray paint and a sparkly shoe.

As a special treat we opened the bottle of Cristal champagne we'd bought Dad a few years ago - I love bubbles.

Advent is over but what a great advent swap I was in, thank you Shirl, Jen and Lyzzy. My final present was extra special. The wonderful Lyzzy made me a gorgeous bag - I love it, I love it, I love it! Unfortunately I don't have a great picture of it but you can catch a peak of it in this photo, just under my left arm. Thank you darling, even if you did make me cry!

Monday, 24 December 2007

Well it's here, Christmas Eve. I've had to slow down a bit over the last day or so, due to hurting my calf muscle, that will teach me to go to a party and stay sober! In truth I'm gutted as I'm going dancing in Sweden from the 27th, so I'm being good and resting it and have some gel for it. But I'm not good at sitting still, it's just not in my nature, hey ho!!

I still managed a day out yesterday. My sister and I went to Sandbach to pick up our special Christmas dinner. This year we're have a five bird roast, so a bird, within a bird etc. So we'll have guinea fowl, pheasant, duck, chicken and turkey. The butcher was brilliant, we got sausage rolls and mince pies while we waited in the queue and then he made sure we knew how to cook our feast. I can see us going back before next Christmas. Here's birdie in all his glory.

It's nearly the end of my advent swap but I'm enjoying my last couple of gifts from Lyzzy. I got a giant chocolate coin and some post it notes in the shape of my initial - they're sticky!!

Today I received a lovely manicure set and the most gorgeous K&Co book of tags - they are all gorgeous. Thanks Lyzzy xx

Saturday, 22 December 2007

Only a few more wake ups until santa gets here. So with all my wrapping done and cards sent I thought I'd make a couple of bits for my sisters dining room. Her dining table colour scheme is red and gold, so I'm hoping she can find somewhere to pop the candle and the decorations.

The candle was decorated using the tissue paper method - stamp on to tissue paper, lay it on the candle, cover with greaseproof paper and use your heat gun, waft it about until you see the paper change colour and you'll find the tissue paper is melted into the candle - cool!! I've then added some ribbon and gems.

The decorations are from the K&Co decoration book. My good friend Fran gave me a couple to have a play with. So with a bit, well a lot of glitter and some gems they look great.

Time to catch up with the beautiful gifts I've been unwrapping in my advent swap. I've had the last of my gifts from Jaffs - thank you sweetie, all of them have been amazing and your quilling is outstanding.

So onto the lovely Lyzzy and what a great start a hand made Christmas watch - I love it, it's so much fun, I'll be wearing it over Christmas.

Today I received this cute cupcake bauble and a lovely smelling scented candle. ThanksLyzzy - I'm loving my gifts. Although I'm starting to get sad as it will soon be over.

Wednesday, 19 December 2007

... tied up with string. I've been busy wrapping the last of the Christmas presents. This year I decided to go for the old fashioned look with brown paper and string, with only the tags adding a little bit of colour. There's been a couple of comments as to have I gone eco-friendly or am I trying to save money but no it was a consciousfashion/art decision. Most other people have loved the idea. So crafting has gone by the board apart from the tags, for the last couple of days. Well a girl has to get a hair cut, have the car serviced and donate blood.

As usual my to-do list is still outstanding and includes writing some more Christmas cards, making a few last minute cards (nothing like a little bit of pressure), wrapping and posting a present and a magazine commission for Beautiful Cards.

In my advent swap I continue to be wowed on a daily basis and have received another brilliant Rhonna Farrer stamp. I can see this butterfly featuring on those spring birthday cards. I can see them stamped onto acetate and painted with H2O's using the special spray from Once Upon A Stamp, for a great look.

And look at this quilling, when you realise the smallest tree is only 1/2 cm tall you can see the talent of the wonderful Jen - you're a star.

Monday, 17 December 2007

It's cold and frosty here today. I'm glad I haven't got far to go today, just the post office and the bank. Here's a couple of cards I've been making, mainly with my Stampin' Up! supplies. I love the way that they're very simple but classic looking. The first one had no message as it was a sympathy card for my step-auntie who has just lost her husband. The others would make great cards for lots occasions, thinking of you, get well, just a note for a friend, anything really.

Today is the day that Jan is laid to rest. In her memory we've been asked to wear something red today. So although I can't get to the funeral I am wearing my red santa hat and thinking of a very special lady.

Sunday, 16 December 2007

I've had a great weekend. It started on Saturday with the Altrincham Christmas Crop. A brilliant day filled with fun and laughter and great company. We had a buffet, played bingo, stand-up bingo, pass the parcel and our auction. Christmas cards were swapped - all of them handcrafted - thank you girl you know how much your cards mean to me. Also a massive thank you to my secret santa, I got lots of gorgeous goodies - I'll photograph them and pop them up here tomorrow.

So with all the shenanigans I only managed to make one card. A happy new home card (made with my Stampin' Up! supplies) for my sister - but she did get the Doodlebug Christmas house too.

Here's some piccies of us at the crop yesterday - Gwyneth and me, with jingling head attire. Thank you for everything - you're a star xxx

Val and Shirley - they have to share the title for getting something done with their kit this month, which is more than I did!

Jenny and Sue, busy making those last minute cards!

Siobhan and Gwyneth - your Christmas card was beautiful Siobhan and thank you for lending us the bingo machine.

Last but by no mean least, the lovely Kae - thank you for my munkee card

Update on my advent swap. I am being so spoilt. On the 15th I got this stunning quilled Christmas tree, it's made from strips of paper and stands no more than an inch tall - isn't Jen a talented wench!

Today I received more luscious stamps - Jen knows my love of stamps and these are just up my street. Thank you so much xx

Friday, 14 December 2007

It's been a busy day today with my Stampin' Up! order arriving and shopping for tomorrows crop. As it's nearly Christmas we have a buffet at our crop, play bingo and have a mini-auction and a secret santa present swap. I'm really looking forward to tomorrow.

I can't believe I managed to finish this little house today - I started it a couple of months ago and then it sat in the pile of things to do/finish! It was all done apart from the glitter and just placing the trees and assembling the sleigh. The sleigh came about completely by accident, the swirly bits are from a sissix die and the idea grew from there. A lot of glitter is sprinkled all over the house!

Thursday, 13 December 2007

I've been busy making more Christmas cards. Lots of stamping, colouring and as it's Christmas, glitter galore!

The little Christmas tree was stamped with my newest stamp, I only opened it today, as part of my advent swap. See below for a photo of the stamp.

Here's some little snowmen. Quite apt as it's so cold today and it looks as though it may have even tried to snow ast night.

And my Penny Black lady stamp is out again. I can't help it, she's so much fun. There's been a fair bit of talk recently over colouring in stamped images. Most of the time I use a waterbrush and either my caran d'ache watercolour pastels or ink from brush pens or ink pad onto plastic and then picked up with the waterbrush.The little parcels are from a studioG set and coloured in with twinkling H2O's.

These cards are for my dancing friends. I just love thee little people. They're very kindly cut using my friend Gwyneths cricut. Lindy hop dancers aren't easy to depict on cards, so these little friends do the trick nicely.

This is my newest stamp from my lovely friend Jaffne. It was my 13th parcel in my advent swap and I love it, so much that I used it straight away, along with the gems I got yesterday. Thanks Jaffs xx

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About Me

This is just a place where I share my Ginger adventures and a little bit of my creativity. I love paper, glue and rubberstamps and I'm a card designer, demonstrator, feature writer, scrapbooker, mini-book maker and papercraft enthusiast, plus I have a fantastic full time job! I also love food, 1940's swing dancing and of course my lovely family and my fabulous friends.